scholarly journals A Comparison of Subxiphoid and Intercostal Wound Pain in the Same Patients Following Thoracic Surgery

Author(s):  
Yu-Wei Liu ◽  
Shah-Hwa Chou ◽  
Andre Chou ◽  
Chieh-Ni Kao ◽  
Hung-Hsing Chiang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: There is a lack of data comparing postoperative pain after subxiphoid and intercostal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). Pain is an individual's subjective experience and therefore difficult to compare between different individuals subjected to either procedure. This study assessed reported pain at six postoperative time points in the same patients receiving both subxiphoid and intercostal incisions for thoracic disease. Methods: Data from 26 patients who received simultaneous combined intercostal and subxiphoid VATS were retrospectively analyzed from August 2019 to April 2020. All patients received same length subxiphoid and intercostal incisions with or without drain placements. A numerical pain rating scale was administered on postoperative days (POD)-1, POD-2, POD-Discharge, POD-30, POD-90, and POD-180.Results: Bilateral uniportal VATS was performed in 11 patients and unilateral multiportal VATS in 15 patients. In the unilateral VATS group, there were no significant differences in pain reported for subxiphoid and intercostal incisions. However, in the bilateral VATS group, subxiphoid wounds resulted in significantly higher mean pain scores on POD-1, POD-2, and POD-Discharge (p = 0.0003, 0.001, and 0.03, respectively) but lower pain scores on POD-90 (p = 0.03). Conclusions: In the bilateral VATS group, higher late (3 and 6 months) postoperative pain was associated with intercostal incisions as have been reported by previous studies. Interestingly, subxiphoid incisions were found to have higher early (Day 1, 2, and Discharge) postoperative pain than intercostal incisions. More research is needed to better understand the cause of pain in a surgical area previously not thought to be prone to pain.

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian Wei Tan ◽  
Jameelah Sheik Mohamed ◽  
John Kit Chung Tam

Abstract Background Well-controlled postoperative pain is essential for early recovery after uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (UVATS). Conventional analgesia like opioids and thoracic epidural anaesthesia have been associated with hypotension and urinary retention. Intercostal catheters are a regional analgesic alternative that can be inserted during UVATS to avoid these adverse effects. This feasibility study aims to evaluate the postoperative pain scores and analgesic requirements with incorporation of an intercostal catheter into a multimodal analgesic strategy for UVATS. Methods In this observational study, 26 consecutive patients who underwent UVATS were administered a multilevel intercostal block and oral paracetamol. All of these patients received 0.2% ropivacaine continuously at 4 ml/h via an intercostal catheter at the level of the incision. Rescue analgesia including etoricoxib, gabapentin and opioids were prescribed using a pain ladder approach. Postoperative pain scores and analgesic usage were assessed. The secondary outcomes were postoperative complications, days to ambulation and length of stay. Results No technical difficulties were encountered during placement of the intercostal catheter. There was only one case of peri-catheter leakage. Mean pain score was 0.31 (range 0–2) on post-operative day 1 and was 0.00 by post-operative day 5. 16 patients (61.6%) required only oral rescue analgesia. The number of patients who required rescue non-opioids only increased from 1 in the first 7 months to 8 in the next 7 months. There were no cases of hypotension or urinary retention. Median time to ambulation was 1 day (range 1–2). Mean post-operative length of stay was 4.17 ± 2.50 days. Conclusions Incorporation of an intercostal catheter into a multimodal analgesia strategy for UVATS is feasible and may provide adequate pain control with decreased opioid usage.


2021 ◽  
Vol 104 (11) ◽  
pp. 1836-1842

Background: Morphine is commonly used to relief pain after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), however high dose morphine is usually related with many complications. Parecoxib is a potent cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor for parenteral administration that has a role in acute pain management addition to opioid protocol. Objective: To investigate the potential benefits of intravenous parecoxib for relieving postoperative pain after VATS. Materials and Methods: The present study was a randomized controlled trial that assigned 22 patients undergoing VATS into two groups to received either parecoxib 40 mg as P group with 11 patients, or placebo using 2 mL of Normal Saline Solution as C group with 11 patients with an intravenous administration at 30 minutes prior to surgery and then 12 hours later. In the postoperative period, all patients received intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) with morphine. The primary outcome was the total morphine consumption for 24 hours postoperatively. The secondary outcomes were pain score at 2, 6, 12, and 24 hours postoperatively, using a numeric rating scale (NRS, 0 to 10) and the incidence of side effects. Results: The total morphine consumption was significantly lower in P group (26.64±4.41 mg) than C group (39.82±3.87 mg) at 24 hours postoperatively (p<0.001). The NRS pain score at rest and on coughing at 24 hours postoperatively between P group compared with C group were 1.09±1.04 versus 4.45±0.69 (p<0.001) and 2.91±0.83 versus 5.36±0.81 (p<0.001), respectively. The incidences of nausea and vomiting were found in both groups at 2, 6, and 12 hours, postoperatively, but there was no statistically significant difference between both groups (p>0.05). Other adverse events such as sedation, pruritus, dyspepsia, headache, hypotension, and respiratory depression were not found. Conclusion: Perioperative administration of parecoxib was safe and effectively decrease postoperative morphine consumption and pain score at rest and on coughing within 24 hours postoperatively after VATS. Keywords: Intravenous parecoxib; Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery; Acute postoperative pain


2018 ◽  
Vol 67 (02) ◽  
pp. 142-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhengcheng Liu ◽  
Rusong Yang ◽  
Feng Shao

Objective To investigate whether the single-port (SP) technique had more favorable postoperative outcomes than had the two-port (TP) technique. Methods One hundred sixty-six single-port video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (SP-VATS) lobectomy and 162 two-port video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (TP-VATS) lobectomy had been successfully completed between August 2015 and September 2016. A single incision of ∼3 cm was made in an intercostal space along the anterior axillary line. Perioperative outcomes and the safety between SP-VATS and TP-VATS lobectomy for NSCLC was compared. Results In the SP-VATS group, incision size was kept to a minimum, with a median of 3 cm; mediastinal lymph node dissection was performed in all patients with malignancy. Overall, median operative time was 89 minutes, and median chest tube duration was 3.1 days. The VAS on postoperative days 3, 7, and 14 was less in the SP-VATS group than that in the TP-VATS group. The VAS on days 1, 30, 60, 90, 180, and 360 did not differ significantly between the two groups. The number of days of use of analgesic agents after surgery was less in the SP-VATS group. The pathological symptoms of wound pain were significantly less in the SP-VATS group. Conclusions Compared with the multiport approach, SP VATS lobectomy might reduce postoperative pain and lead to faster recovery.


2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiantian Yang ◽  
Wencong Huang ◽  
Peijian Li ◽  
Huizhen Hu ◽  
Yongsheng Li ◽  
...  

Abstract Background We investigated single-port video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) combined with a postoperative non-indwelling drain in enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS). Methods The clinical data of 127 patients who underwent double- and single-port VATS from January 2018 to December 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. The groups constituted 71 cases undergoing double-port and 56 cases undergoing single-port VATS (30 cases in the indwelling drain group and 26 cases in the non-indwelling drain group). The incidence of postoperative complications, pain scores, and postoperative hospital stay were compared between the two groups. Results Compared with the double-port group, the single-port group had shorter postoperative hospital stays and lower pain scores on the first and third postoperative days (P < 0.05). Pain scores on the first and third days were lower in the single-port non-indwelling drain group than in the single-port indwelling drain group (P < 0.05), and the postoperative hospitalization time was significantly shorter in the single-port group (P < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference between the two groups for operation time, incidence of complications, and pain scores 1 month after operation (P > 0.05). Conclusions The combination of single-port VATS with a non-indwelling drain can relieve postoperative pain, help patients recover quickly, and is in accordance with ERAS.


BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. e038985
Author(s):  
Yu-Hsiang Ling ◽  
Ying-Hsuan Tai ◽  
Hsiang-Ling Wu ◽  
Wei-Lun Fu ◽  
Mei-Yung Tsou ◽  
...  

ObjectiveThe efficacy of parecoxib as pre-emptive analgesia still remains controversial. This study aimed to investigate how pre-emptive analgesia with parecoxib affected postoperative pain trajectories over time in patients undergoing thoracic surgery.DesignRetrospective cohort study.SettingA single medical centre in Taiwan.ParticipantsWe collected 515 patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery at a tertiary medical centre between September 2016 and August 2017.InterventionsPre-emptive parecoxib before surgery.Primary and secondary outcome measuresDaily numeric rating pain scores in the first postoperative week.ResultsA total of 196 (38.1%) of the recruited patients received parecoxib preoperatively. The latent curve analysis revealed that woman, higher body weight and postoperative use of parecoxib were associated with increased baseline level of pain scores over time (p=0.035, 0.005 and 0.048, respectively) but epidural analgesia and preoperative use of parecoxib were inclined to decrease it (both p<0.001). Regarding the decreasing trends of changes in daily pain scores, older age and epidural analgesia tended to steepen the slope (p=0.014 and <0.001, respectively). Preoperative use of parecoxib were also related to decreased frequency of rescue morphine medication (HR=0.4; 95% CI 0.25 to 0.65).ConclusionsPre-emptive analgesia with parecoxib was associated with decreased baseline pain scores but had no connection with pain decreasing trends over time. Latent curve analysis provided insights into the dynamic relationships among the analgesic modalities, patient characteristics and postoperative pain trajectories.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Deng ◽  
Xiao-min Hou ◽  
Xu-yan Zhou ◽  
Qing-he Zhou

Abstract Background Rhomboid intercostal block (RIB) and Rhomboid intercostal block with sub-serratus plane block (RISS) are the two types of plane blocks used for postoperative analgesia after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). This prospective randomized controlled trial was performed to analyze the postoperative analgesic effects of ultrasound-guided RIB block and RISS block after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. Methods Ninety patients aged between 18 and 80 years, with American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Classes I–II and scheduled for elective unilateral VATS were randomly allocated into three groups. In group C, no block intervention was performed. Patients in group RIB received ultrasound-guided RIB with 20-mL 0.375% ropivacaine and those in group RISS received ultrasound-guided RIB and serratus plane block using a total of 40-mL 0.375% ropivacaine. All patients received intravenous sufentanil patient-controlled analgesia upon arrival in the recovery room. Postoperative sufentanil consumption and pain scores were compared among the groups. Results The dosages of sufentanil consumption at 24 h after the surgery in the RIB and RISS groups were significantly lower than that in group C (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001 for all comparisons, respectively), the postoperative Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) scores in the RIB and RISS groups at 0.5, 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 h after surgery when patients were at rest or active were significantly lower than that in group C (p < 0.05 for all comparisons). The required dosage of sufentanil and time to first postoperative analgesic request in groupRISS were less than those in the group RIB at 24 h after the surgery (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001 for all comparisons, respectively). Similarly, the Numerical Rating Scale scores for group RISS at 12, 18, and 24 h after the surgery when the patients were active were significantly lower than those for group RIB (p < 0.05 for all comparisons). Conclusion Both ultrasound-guided RIB block and RISS block can effectively reduce the demand for sufentanil within 24 h after VATS, and less sufentanil dosage is needed in patient with RISS block. Ultrasound-guided RIB block and RISS block can effectively relieve pain within 24 h after VATS, and RISS block is more effective.


Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 1275
Author(s):  
Vincenzo Cicirelli ◽  
Pasquale Debidda ◽  
Nicola Maggio ◽  
Michele Caira ◽  
Giovanni M. Lacalandra ◽  
...  

Orchiectomy is a common surgical procedure performed on small animals, and it requires postoperative pain management despite its relative simplicity. This study aimed to evaluate the hemodynamic stability, intraoperative administration of additional hypnotic and/or analgesic drugs, and postoperative pain scores following the combination of ultrasound-guided injection of ropivacaine hydrochloride into the spermatic cord and infiltration by the same anaesthetic of the incisional prescrotal line (ROP) or general anaesthesia. Dogs in the ROP group showed greater intraoperative hemodynamic stability and lower pain scores than the control group. The locoregional approach used in this study proved effective in minimising the responses to the surgical stimulus and ensured adequate analgesia intra- and postoperatively. This method, called ultrasound-guided funicular block, allows orchiectomy to be performed under deep sedation without general anaesthesia.


Author(s):  
Espeed Khoshbin ◽  
Ali N. Al-Jilaihawi ◽  
Nicholas B. Scott ◽  
Dhruva Prakash ◽  
Alan J. B. Kirk

Objective To compare different modes of pain management following video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) to our national standard. Methods This is an audit based on patient's experiences. One hundred consecutive patients who underwent VATS with or without pleurodesis were managed by one of the following pain relief pathways: (A) thoracic paravertebral block + morphine patient-controlled analgesia (PCA), (B) percutaneous thoracic paravertebral catheter +/– morphine PCA, (C) thoracic epidural +/– morphine PCA, (D) morphine PCA alone, and (E) intravenous or subcutaneous morphine as required. Pain score was documented up to four times per day for each patient. The incidence of severe pain was defined as visual analog scale ≥7. The results were compared with the standard set by the audit commission for postoperative pain relief in the UK. The mean daily pain scores were calculated retrospectively for all patients. Results There were no statistically significant differences in mean daily pain scores irrespective of having a pleurodesis. The percentage of patients experiencing severe pain was 34% [mean visual analog scale = 8 (standard deviation = 1.0)]. This was almost seven times the standard. Among these pathways, B had the least percentage incidence of severe pain (16.7%) followed by A (25.0%) D (33.3%), C (35.7%), and E (52.4%). Conclusions We are not compliant with the standards set by the audit commission. Pain management in theater recovery needs to be targeted. In the light of these results, we recommend the use of percutaneous thoracic paravertebral catheter +/– morphine PCA for postoperative VATS pain relief.


2016 ◽  
Vol 125 (6) ◽  
pp. 1513-1522 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nir Shimony ◽  
Uri Amit ◽  
Bella Minz ◽  
Rachel Grossman ◽  
Marc A. Dany ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to assess in-hospital (immediate) postoperative pain scores and analgesic consumption (primary goals) and preoperative anxiety and sleep quality (secondary goals) in patients who underwent craniotomy and were treated with pregabalin (PGL). Whenever possible, out-of-hospital pain scores and analgesics usage data were obtained as well. METHODS This prospective, randomized, double-blind and controlled study was conducted in consenting patients who underwent elective craniotomy for brain tumor resection at Tel Aviv Medical Center between 2012 and 2014. Patients received either 150 mg PGL (n = 50) or 500 mg starch (placebo; n = 50) on the evening before surgery, 1.5 hours before surgery, and twice daily for 72 hours following surgery. All patients spent the night before surgery in the hospital, and no other premedication was administered. Opioids and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs were used for pain, which was self-rated by means of a numerical rating scale (score range 0–10). RESULTS Eighty-eight patients completed the study. Data on the American Society of Anesthesiologists class, age, body weight, duration of surgery, and intraoperative drugs were similar for both groups. The pain scores during postoperative Days 0 to 2 were significantly lower in the PGL group than in the placebo group (p < 0.01). Analgesic consumption was also lower in the PGL group, both immediately and 1 month after surgery. There were fewer requests for antiemetics in the PGL group, and the rate of postoperative nausea and vomiting was lower. The preoperative anxiety level and the quality of sleep were significantly better in the PGL group (p < 0.01). There were no PGL-associated major adverse events. CONCLUSIONS Perioperative use of twice-daily 150 mg pregabalin attenuates preoperative anxiety, improves sleep quality, and reduces postoperative pain scores and analgesic usage without increasing the rate of adverse effects. Clinical trial registration no.: NCT01612832 (clinicaltrials.gov)


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